The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-22
Guy Smiths Wanderings.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept. THE last
act of tragedy begun eighteen years ago
was concluded in the Circuit Court at
Bolivar, Tenn, last night, when Guy
Smith was acquitted of the charge of
murder. On the I'd day of February,
1869, at Salisbury, Tenn, a little town
on the Memphis and Charleston Rail.
road, younger brother ofSmith became
Involved in difficulty with two men
named Bowden and Read, well-to.de
residents of the vicinity. Young Smith
was getting the worst Of the affray, when
Guy drew revolver and rushed to the
rescue. Two pistol shots rang out and
Bowden and Read fell to the ground, shot
through the body. Then the man who
had done the deed to save his brother
from the indignity of tbrashing threw
away his smoking pistol and, boarding
train which was just moving out from
the station near by, was borne away to
Chattanooga. BY that one act he had
forfeited fourishing business and the
companionship of wife, children and
friends, and become 8 fugitive.
From Chattanooga he went to ST. Louis
and Kansas City, and then took refuge
on the plains of Montana. There he
lived for several years, and by hard work
and "taking his own part'' whenever
necessary, became partner in pros
porous cattle business. All this time he
went by the name of Robert Brown. he
dared not write home, and his family and
friends were left in doubt as to whether
he was alive or dead. He could not rest
content, even with fortune in view, and
finally turned the ranch over to his part
ner and wandered away to the City Of
Mexico. There he was recognized by
several of his old comrades in Forests
cavalry, in which command he had risen
By gallant conduct on the field to the
rank of colonel. They kept his secret,
and he embarked in business there.
Fortune favored him once more and
everything he touched turned to gold.
He remained in the City of Mexico six
or eight years, and then, overcome by
longing osee his wife and children at all
hazards, be started for home.
For some reason he did not carry out
this design, but stopped on the way at a
farm which he owned near Newport,
Ark. There he lived until few weeks
ago, when the welcome news came that
the two men he had shot were not dead.
they had recovered after long struggle
against the effects of their terrible wounds
and then left the country. at the time
of the shooting the grand jury was in
session. It wasreported to that body that
Bowden and Read had died of their
wounds, and an indictment was at once
found against Smith charging him with
murder in the first degree. Through
some oversight this Indictment was left
standing as originally drawn, and this
fact was reported to Smith. But it
weighed nothing against his yearniog to
see his family and clear his name. So as
soon as possible after hearing the news
he returned to his old home. He found
the little children he had left eighteen
years before now grown to manhood and
womenhood, and the handsome young
wife grave and middleaged matron.
His arrival was reported to the authori-
ties, and in due time The trial came off at
Bolivar, the county seat of Hardeman
County, wherein Salisbury is also situat.
ed. 1t resulted in the acquittal of the
accused, as already stated.
Colonel Smith is now wealthy man
and he has had enough of wandering.
He intends to devote the remainder of his
life to the domestic duties and pleasures
from which he was SC long debarred.